William Rhodes Preddy

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-33278.jpeg UPL 33278 1Lt Bill Preddy 339th FG KIA J Cook photo collection and archives

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Object Number - UPL 33278 - 1Lt Bill Preddy 339th FG KIA

Killed in Action (KIA) crashed near Prague (unknown cause) in P-51 'Rusty' 44-11623. Bill was flying wing to Captain Ray Reuter when the two chased a pair of ME262 jet fighters. Hoping to catch them as they landed, but failing, they decided to strafe the German Airfield at Budejovice, Czechoslovakia. Both were shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. However, none of their squadron mates knew what happened, so they were listed as Missing in Action (MIA) on the last mission flown by the 339th. It wasn't until 1991 that we learned their fate. The Czechs have built memorials to both because they helped liberate them from the Nazis. Lieutenant Preddy was the brother of Lieutenant George Preddy who was killed by 'friendly' fire. George was with the 352nd Fighter Group and was a top ace.



Awards: AM (3OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME (2 Battle Stars).

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-832663
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron 487th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (352nd Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-430846
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Commander

Aircraft

Captain Lloyd J "Jeff" French and airman of the 339th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang (D7-A, serial number 44-11623) nicknamed "Rusty". Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: 'Cpt JL French & 411623 D7-A. A/C which Preddy KIA.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Rusty
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Whoa To Joe's Woes
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

YouTube story on Lt. Preddy: https://youtu.be/xNfAlNsDVDs

Greensboro, North Carolina 20 July 1924 Son of George Earle and Clara Estelle [Noah] Preddy.

Enlisted

Miami Beach, FL 26 February 1943 Miami Beach, Florida

Other

Flight training

Mission, TX 23 May 1944 Advanced - Graduated 2lt - Mission, TX Class 44-E.

Other

E/A Destroyed

Germany 2 March 1945 Claimed Fw190 and Me109 destroyed, credited 1 x kill, 1 x damaged.

Died

Vicinity of Klatovy, Czech 17 April 1945 Crashed near Prague (unknown cause) in P-51 'Rusty' 44-11623 Killed in Action (KIA)

Buried

Re-Interred Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial Plot A, Row 21, Grave 42

Other

Flight training

Cuero, TX Primary - Cuero, Texas

Other

Flight training

Waco, TX Basic - Waco, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorHotelie1970
Changes
Sources

YouTube.com video on Lt. William R. Preddy

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56651989/william-r-preddy
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributorfugari
Changes
Sources

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Date
Contributorfugari
Changes
Sources

JCook Photo Collection & archives

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on FRE 338

Date
ContributorPhillWray
Changes
Sources

Biographical text updated.

Date
ContributorPhillWray
Changes
Sources

Updated biographical text to correct grammatical errors.

Date
ContributorPhillWray
Changes
Sources

Awards associated from biographical information.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13938 / MACR 13938/Joe Noah, cousin / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

William Rhodes Preddy: Gallery (2 items)